W. H. VON STREERUWITZ—PRECIOUS METALS OP TEXAS. 
21 
The same rock species, in some places with serpentinous rocks, are 
the matrix in which platinum is found, and these rocks in themselves 
and in contact with each other, with limestone, etc., are regarded ore- 
bearing all over the globe where mining is carried on. Why should 
the mountains of Texas be an exception to the rule ? This, I think, is 
sufficient to demonstrate the possibility and even the probability that 
precious and base metals can be found in Texas. 
Besides, we find in the mountains of the Central district, as well as 
in the Trans-Pecos portion of the State, direct and distinct indications 
of ore deposits. The granites, porphyries and schists abound in quartz 
leads from a few inches to twenty and more feet in thickness. Carbon 
and other spars we meet surprisingly often in the eruptive and meta- 
morphic rocks. Mica, garnets, aragonites, in short nearly every kind of 
promising gangue rocks, are found in both districts. They are mostly 
“mineralized” (colored by metallic combination) on the surface al¬ 
ready, or are even ore-bearing there. 
Iron outcrops and outblows, equivalent to the “ eiseiner hut” (iron 
hat) of the German miner, the “gossan” of the Welsh, the “ alma- 
gres ” of the Mexican, the “ pacos or colorados ” of the South Ameri¬ 
can, are of common occurrence; and many of these outcrops contain 
copperstain traces of lead, zinc, silver, gold, and so count among the 
best and most distinct indications. 
Discoloring by metallic oxides and decomposed leads are frequently 
met with and promising prospect holes sunk on such places. 
In the Central district many seep springs and wet streaks, indicating 
gangues and veins, exist. This form of indication is extremely scarce 
in West Texas, not because they do not exist there, but because the 
foot of the mountains, where w r e have to look for this phenomenon, is 
buried in most places under thick layers (frequently more than 1000 
feet) of the detritus of the rocks. In the Central district peculiarities 
in the vegetation show plainly the strike of gangues and veins; as for 
instance streaks of live oak brush running for miles with gangue out¬ 
crops, or where post oak forests cover the ground, the leaves of the 
trees are fresher green and considerably larger along the gangues. 
Even in West Texas, where there is not much vegetation worth speak¬ 
ing of, on - the mountain slopes streaks where the grass is better over 
the leads can be observed. 
Finally float pieces of ore-bearing rock must attract the attention of 
the experienced observer. I am in possession of many good specimens 
of silver-bearing lead and copper from the Central district, and to men¬ 
tion only a few of the best float pieces which I picked up in Trans- 
Pecos Texas, I refer to three gold specimens of respectively 4, 11 and 
17 1-2 ounces of gold to the ton; true, small pieces only, but proof 
enough that gold ore is in the mountains. 
But we have to deal not only with conditions and circumstances 
